Year of Recognition

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amy Lovgren
  • 133rd Public Affairs Office
St. Paul, Minn --  On an unusually warm December day, airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing gathered for the annual award ceremony in St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 13, 2014.

During the ceremony, some distinguished visitors gave a holiday message to the onlookers. This year, Mr. John Bessler, husband to Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke to the crowd. "You have a long history as members of the 133rd Airlift Wing. You are part of the first flying unit of the National Guard which was federally recognized in 1921."

The award ceremony gave praise to airmen who have gone above and beyond what was asked of them in the past year. The 133rd Airlift Wing Outstanding Airman of 2014 include: Senior Airman Benjamin Terhaar, 133rd Civil Engineer Squadron, as Airmen of the Year, Tech. Sgt. Katherine Morsch, 133rd Medical Group, as NCO of the Year, Master Sgt. Ryan Hoffman, 133rd Medical Group, as Senior NCO of the Year, Master Sgt. Bradly Trelstad, 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, as First Sergeant of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Alyson Welter, 133rd Force Support Squadron, as Honor Guard Team Member of the Year.

This year, the ceremony also recognized two airmen that saved the lives of another person. Master Sgt. Robert Renning, 133rd Mission Support Group, received the American Legion Award for Heroism. Renning rescued a trapped motorist from a burning vehicle last summer. 

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Claypool, 133rd Security Forces Squadron, received the Minnesota Commendation Medal with Pendant. Claypool responded to a medical emergency with an Air Wing contract employee. The employee was lying on the ground unresponsive and Claypool used CPR along with an AED until paramedics arrived.

"The environment of excellence our Wing has earned is maintained through the hard work and extraordinary efforts of our member," said 1st Lt. Kimberly Swenson, 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "Once again, we have national, state, and local award recipients and are proud to recognize them today."